The drunken, jealous little wolf

Ghost and Elia walked into the banquet hall arm in arm, with Oberyn escorting them like a knight.

Word of "Rhaenys's" heroic deeds had spread through practically all of King's Landing. Many people were deeply curious about the inventor of "fencing," and countless eyes followed her along the way.

If Elia and Oberyn had not been with her, she would probably have been cornered.

Prince Rhaegar was waiting at the entrance to the banquet hall. Today, he wore a black silk shirt, with a gold clasp securing his magnificent velvet cloak at an angle. His collar was slightly open, revealing surprisingly prominent collarbones-the kind you could stand a phone in!

A small gold three-headed dragon brooch was pinned to the prince's chest. The dragons' eyes were cut gemstones, and it looked exquisite.

He nodded in greeting to Elia and Oberyn, then bent his arm slightly, inviting Ghost to take it.

They slowly walked into the hall together. Ghost kept her eyes lowered and her thoughts inward, refusing to look at him. Everyone they passed greeted the prince eagerly. Some of the ladies also curtsied to Ghost.

Ghost answered all the ladies' greetings with a smile, not bothering to speak.

The atmosphere was more than a little silent. Neither spoke first. Rhaenys no longer smiled at Rhaegar, nor did she gaze at him adoringly with those eyes as deep as the night sky...

This left Rhaegar somewhat irritated.

"You shouldn't be so close to the Dornish," Rhaegar could not help saying. "You are my betrothed. Others will mistake it for a reflection of my position."

Ghost finally looked him in the eye. "Elia is my friend."

Rhaegar said, "The queen of Dorne wants me to marry Elia. Naturally, she has no objection to taking a princess back as a bride, either."

Although Rhaenys was not of this branch of House Targaryen, she had lands and a bestowed name, making her little different from a princess born to it.

Seeing that Rhaenys did not understand, Rhaegar had to make himself clearer. "My father has tacitly agreed. They all want me to take two wives..."

With that, he looked at Ghost and waited for her answer.

Ghost remained silent for a long time. The jealous questioning Rhaegar had imagined never came. She merely lowered her head and said softly, "That sounds fine. I have no objections."

Elia was Rhaegar's rightful wife to begin with. She was merely an impostor.

"Mm..." Rhaegar frowned slightly and released her hand with polite coldness. They took their seats separately and did not speak another word or look at each other again.

Ghost felt a twinge in her chest, as though something sharp were poking it. She knew she should not treat Prince Rhaegar this way. You could not expect the future ruler of a feudal dynasty to remain faithful to you alone and show no favor to any other woman.

Besides, what right did she have to ask that of Rhaegar?

She wanted to keep herself from falling any deeper in love with Rhaegar, but her efforts had somewhat backfired. Rhaegar was angry again. Wasn't that the answer he wanted?

The king had yet to arrive, and the guests trickled into the banquet hall. Lord Tywin chatted and laughed at the front of the hall, and every guest greeted him respectfully before sitting down.

Lord Tywin's son and daughter finally arrived.

The blond Jaime walked ahead, protectively escorting his elder sister. Cersei was even more beautiful today than the rumors claimed. Her jewel-encrusted headband gleamed against her long golden hair. The emeralds set into it complemented her dazzling green eyes perfectly.

She wore a smile, her gaze fixed on Prince Rhaegar the entire time. Young Jaime looked full of vigor. He too possessed House Lannister's golden hair and green eyes.

Unlike his sister, Jaime kept searching the crowd for something.

The two approached the prince and bowed. Jaime asked eagerly, "Your Highness, why haven't I seen His Grace or the Kingsguard? And Ser Arthur Dayne?"

Rhaegar smiled. "His Grace will arrive a little later. The Kingsguard must remain at his side to protect him. You'll see Ser Arthur Dayne shortly."

Ghost's attention was drawn to little Jaime, who was still a boy.

His features still had a somewhat girlish cast. His eyes were a little smaller than Cersei's, but his nose had a higher bridge. Standing beside Cersei, he was not overshadowed by her beauty at all. His youthful air gave him an added touch of cuteness, and she could even see something of the young Leonardo in him. (From his Titanic days.)

Jaime was much cuter than Cersei at this age! What a piece of fresh meat.

The boy was tall but lean, with the Lannister lion embroidered on his chest. He was a little nervous when speaking to the prince. There was no sign at all of the cocky, arrogant manner he would have later.

The king finally arrived, with Varys close beside him. The Kingsguard filed in as well. They still had to stand guard while the king feasted, which was rather hard work.

Jaime's eyes lit up the instant he saw Arthur Dayne, and he hurried over. "Ser Arthur, I'm back."

The king's face abruptly darkened, and he looked ready to lash out at the rude boy before him. Prince Rhaegar hurriedly spoke up. "Jaime, why aren't you reporting your achievements to the king? Have the remnants of the Kingswood Brotherhood been caught?"

Only then did Jaime realize he had been too eager. He hurriedly dropped to one knee to report to the king. "The Smiling Knight's accomplices have all been beheaded. His deputy and the captain of his archers fled to the Riverlands, where Lord Hoster's knights captured and killed them."

The king snorted coldly. "You actually let those rebels flee so far. Jaime Lannister, it seems your reputation as a prodigy is undeserved."

Tywin answered unhurriedly, "He is only a child. It is merely idle praise from others. He is still far behind Prince Rhaegar and Ser Arthur."

King Aerys waved a hand, bored. "Enough. Let the feast begin."

Music gradually rose, and the guests began raising their cups and enjoying themselves. The nobles and knights gathered in little groups, chatting, drinking, and laughing quietly.

Seeing most of the guests gathered around Tywin and his children (while Tywin's two children hovered around Rhaegar, especially Cersei), King Aerys seemed to grow even more gloomy. For a time, no one even dared approach him with flattery or conversation.

The king clearly had little patience for such crowded, lively occasions. After a few cups of wine, he left with the queen. Only then did everyone relax, and the banquet gradually grew noisy and lively.

While the prince was away from his seat, Elia drew close to Ghost and asked quietly, "What's going on between you and Rhaegar? Did you quarrel?" They both looked so unhappy. Prince Rhaegar's smile looked stiff.

Ghost had drunk several cups of unpleasant wine and felt a little dizzy. She answered bluntly, "Yes, because of you."

Elia was momentarily left speechless by her bluntness. Why couldn't this girl be the least bit tactful? She frowned. "It's about the marriage alliance with Dorne, isn't it? Rhaegar told you?"

Still pouring wine down her throat, Ghost said forlornly, "He did. I even congratulated him."

Elia nearly choked. She dragged Ghost out of the banquet hall and onto a small terrace, intending to find out how these two troublesome lovebirds had started quarreling.

"I think you've lost your head. Prince Rhaegar turned me down ages ago. Besides, handsome as he is, he isn't my type."

Ghost was not happy about that and began shouting, "Rhaegar is so handsome, tall, and cool, and he's a top-tier eligible bachelor! What right do you have not to like him?"

"Keep your voice down!" Elia covered her mouth. "Do you want to bring everyone over here?"

Ghost began to sob. Not only did her crying sound awful, she repeatedly choked up... Elia could tell at a glance that she was drunk. After only a few cups? That was barely enough to wet your throat...

Ghost clung to Elia and refused to let go. "Elia... I'm so jealous of you. If only I were you. I could marry the prince without a hitch and have his babies... Boo-hoo... Why didn't I transmigrate into you...?"

The more Elia heard, the stranger it sounded. There was much in Rhaenys's words that she could not understand. But she grasped the general meaning of a few things...

She said she was jealous that Elia could marry the prince. That part she understood. But what on earth was this about giving birth to monkeys??